Raise of 2 percent in Social Security benefits for 2018 is not enough

The Social Security Administration has announced that the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security retirement and disability benefits will be a 2.0 percent increase. Experts say the raise is not enough to keep up with the actual increase in the cost of living for seniors and people with disabilities.

The average retired worker will receive an estimated $1,404 per month in January 2018, compared to $1,377 before the raise. The average disabled worker will receive $1,197 per month in January 2018, compared to $1,173 before the increase. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will rise from $735 per month for an individual in 2017 to $750 per month in 2018. For an eligible couple, the SSI monthly benefit will increase from $1,103 in 2017 to $1,125 in 2018. The SSI resource limit will stay the same, at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. The substantial gainful activity level, which marks the gross income amount at which a person is not considered disabled, will rise from $1,170 per month to $1,180.

Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP, said that the increase does not reflect the fact that many costs, such as prescription drugs, utilities and housing, rise faster than inflation. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, a nonprofit advocacy group, said that for many beneficiaries, the small increase in benefits would be wiped out by higher Medicare premiums.

The increase for 2018 is the largest since 2012, when the COLA was 3.6 percent. The increase was 1.7 percent in 2013, 1.5 percent in 2014, 1.7 percent in 2015, 0.0 percent in 2016, and 0.3 percent in 2017.

The annual COLA is based on the consumer price index for workers, or CPI-W. For decades, experts have been pointing out that the CPI-W does not reflect the actual cost of living for seniors and people with disabilities. An alternative measure, the consumer price index for the elderly, or CPI-E, was first proposed in 1987. The National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare supports legislation in Congress by Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN) to link future COLAs to the CPI-E, and give beneficiaries a one-time emergency benefit payout equal to a 3.9% raise.

6 Comments on Raise of 2 percent in Social Security benefits for 2018 is not enough

Brian, My wife insists we stay in Florida when the intention was to go to the UK where I am from and I would receive benefits including a very low medical cost per year for herself.I have no credits in the usa SSA, one of her relatives said as my wife receives disability benefit and has done for some time, I would qualify for married Spousal benefit in proportion.
Can you tell me if this is so, thank you. Jeff.

Brendan,
I have two questions. The first: I have received social security disability benefits for a long time so that I only get around $585 dollars a month. I did not sign up for Part B Medicare as I was covered under my spouse’s work insurance. He just retired, so I signed up for Medicare Part B and was just informed that this month’s SS check will be $318 and after that $452, I am being charged $134/mo. Should I be eligible under the ‘hold harmless’ provision and be charged instead $109/mo being that I was already receiving
Medicare Part A?

Second question: My 62 year old newly retired husband wants to wait until his full retirement age to collect SS. However, there is a disabled spousal benefit. If he should apply for that benefit will it affect his plans to receive a full payment when he reaches his full retirement eligible age?

Thank you for taking the time to explain these things. I learn a lot from your website.
Bonnie

To answer your first question, unfortunately the hold harmless provision only applies to people who were previously paying the Medicare Part B premium. It keeps their rate from going up higher than the annual cost of living adjustment to Social Security benefits. Someone who is new to paying the Part B premium has to pay the full rate. Regarding your second question, there used to be a loophole where you could apply for just spousal benefits and wait on your own, or vice versa, but that has been changed. Now if you apply for one you are deemed to have applied for both, and you will get the higher amount, not both.

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The information on this website does not constitute legal advice. Use of this website, including the contact form or comments form, does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In Florida and Colorado, Brendan Conley practices Social Security disability law exclusively. Attorney charges no fee unless your case is successful; clients may be responsible for their own costs, such as medical costs. Copyright Brendan Conley 2013-2019. Florida: 7320 E. Fletcher Ave. Tampa, FL 33637. Phone: 813-444-2889. Fax: 813-347-9862. Colorado: 1515 Wynkoop St. Ste. 360, Denver, CO 80202. Phone: 720-213-5334. Fax: 720-228-2495.